BRR: The Agency 1: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

BOOK READ RECENTLY:Title:The Agency 1: A Spy in the HouseAuthor:Y.S. LeeOther books in series:The Agency 2: The Body at the Tower comes out Aug. 10!First Impressions: I read the first chapter online at Amazon and was completely hooked.Last Impressions: I could NOT put it down–I loved how Lee took the popular “Victorian Boarding School” novel, and pushed it forward so the story is actually what happens AFTER Mary Quinn, the feisty narrator, finishes her education and is out causing scandal in the real world. How did women live back then?! I also loved the suspense created by Mary having to live within the home of the people she was spying on–You think this would make spying easier? ummm not so much. You might just get stuck in a wardrobe with a very attractive stranger…wait…that doesn’t sound soooo bad.Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT): I thought I knew the reason why Mary was so protective about her past, so I was completely shocked when the real reason was revealed–it made her even more of a compelling and kick-butt heroine.Least Favorite Moment: There was lots and lots of talk the horrible stench of the Thames that almost made me want to vomit.Thoughts on the bookcover: Classic mystery cover–I am totally enchanted by the glowing windows reflecting onto her face and bonnet. YES BONNET! I have an unexplained fascination with bonnets…An ideal place to read this book: on a bench overlooking the Mississippi River. preferably on a non-stinky day.Dream Cast:Katie Leung or Gemma Arterton as Mary Quinn, Shia LeBeouf as James Easton, and Dakota Fanning as Miss Thorold.If you like this book, you may also like:Graceling by Kristin Cashore or Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy by L.A. Meyer. You might also want to watch Manor House –a BBC reality show from a few years ago where one family was chosen to live as a wealthy family and a group of strangers had to work as their servants. They live as if in the Edwardian time, not the Victorian, but it still extremely fascinating to watch how people from modern society both fight and succumb to the class separations. Also, Scullery Maid???? gotta be the WORST job ever.

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